Brake actuating mechanism for trailers



Oct. 19, 1937. E. IRWIN 2,095,178

BRAKE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR TRAILERS Filed July 25, 1936 2Sheets-Sheef 1 Inventor Attorny Oct. 19, 1937. r E. IRWIN 2,096,178

BRAKE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR TRAILERS Filed July 25, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 1135.1: f}

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q k c o N N Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES BRAKE ACTUATINGMECHANISM FOR- TRAILERS Ellis Irwin, Arkansas City, Kans.

Application July 25, 1936, Serial No. 92,628

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a mechanism for actuating the brakes ona trailer and the object of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans whereby when the hauling vehicle is mov- 5 ing more slowly thanthe trailer the brakes of the trailer are applied in an effectivemanner.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provisionof a mechanism of this nature which is simple in its construction,

10 inexpensive to manufacture and install, thoroughly efiicient andreliable in use, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which itis designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in 15 View as will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, and in the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

20 In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the trailer chassis showing my brakeoperating mechanism installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

25 Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section therethrough takensubstantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a. connecting rod.

30 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a crank shaft showing the crankthereon.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that numeral 5 denotes thechassis of an automobile trailer, numeral 6 the rear wheel assemblythere- 35 of and numeral 1 the dirigible front wheel assembly. Numerals9 denote the brakes on the rear wheels of the rear wheel assembly.Numerals l denote the connecting rods which actuate the brakes 9.

40 Numeral ll denotes a tongueextending from the center of the axle ofthe front wheel assembly and connected therewith on a vertical pivot l2.A loop or sleeve I4 is mounted on the front end of the tongue bysuitable means l and has its 45 axis obliquely disposed to the tongue Hso as to diverge upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. A bar I6 is slidablethrough the sleeve l4 and has a suitable clevis I! on the front endthereof. An eye block I8 is fixed on the rear end thereof. A

50 rod I9 is engaged with the eye block I8 and extends through a guide20 on the front of the chassis 5 and also through a guide 2| on a crossbar 22 disposed in the forward portion of the chassis frame 5. A spring23 is disposed about 5 the rod I9 between the guide 20 and the eye blockl8 and urges. the rod l9 forwardly in released position as will be moreapparent as the description proceeds.

A shaft 25 is journalled across the central portion of the chassis 5.Cranks 26 extend down- 5 wardly from the end portions of the shaft 25. Adouble crank 21 has its intermediate portions fixed to the centralportion of the shaft and protrudes in opposite directionstherefrom. Therods I0 are engaged with the cranks 26. The rod i9 is adjusably engagedas at 29 with the upper end of the double crank 21. The lower end of thedouble crank 21 has engaged therewith a spring 30 which is engaged witha suitable cross bracket 3| on the chassis 5 rearwardly of the shaft 25and tensioned so as tonormally hold the brakes 9 in released position.

Obviously, when an automobile or other hauling vehicle is properlyengaged with the clevis I I and is pulling the trailer the brakes 9 arein released position. When the hauling vehicle, however, is movingslower than the trailer then the bar It is moved rearwardly against thetension of the spring 23 and moves the rod l9 rearwardly thereby rockingthe shaft so as to pull for- 25 wardly against the tension of the spring30, on the connecting rods l0 thereby applying the brakes, of thetrailer.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantagesof this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in thisart without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed inconsiderable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since inactual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details.

of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a trailer including a chassis frame, wheels having brakes andoperating means for said brakes; a lead vehicle control for said brakeoperating members, said control consisting of a transversely mountedshaft on the chassis frame having crank arms at the ends thereofconnected to said brake operating members, a pair of arms disposed inopposite directions on the intermediate portion of the shaft, a crossmember on the chassis frame,' spring extending from one of thelastmentione'd arms to the 'cross' bar, a rod longitudinally Vmovab leVofjthe frame, a. pivotal 1 connection between the'rar end of the rodand the remaining arm; a leading vehicle' attached, bar on the front endof the frame, guide means for the bar, guide means on the front end ofthe fframe through which the rod is sli dable, and a.

V 7' ipewe t l g I coiled compressibiespri ng on the forward end of therod having one of its ends impinging the rear 'end of the bar and'itsopposite end impinging the last-mentioned guide means, the forward endof r the rod and the rearward end of the bar being 5 r loosely connectedtogether. g V

1 ELLIS IRWIN.

